Davis pleased with library bids

FARMINGTON — Competition drives prices down. It's a basic economic principle, and it's thriving in Davis County.

Sixteen construction companies submitted bids to the Davis County Commission on Feb. 15 to build Centerville's new county library branch, driving costs down by as much as $220,000.

"I feel like a kid at Christmas," County Clerk/Auditor Steve Rawlings said as he eyed the pile of bids.

Ascent Construction of Centerville submitted the lowest bid, at $1.38 million — well below the $1.6 million the county budgeted for the project. And on Feb. 22, the County Commission awarded the Centerville construction company with the library job.

The 10,200-square-foot library is the capstone of a five-year-plan designed to enhance library services across the county, said Pete Giacoma, county library director.

In 1999, the County Commission approved a $13 tax increase per household to expand the county library system.

Centerville is investing nearly $800,000 over the next three years to build two parks: Library Park, which will sit adjacent to the new library, and Founders Park, near City Hall.

Money will also go toward a trail system that circles the city center and connects to existing trails and parks.

Construction on Library Park should begin this spring, said Steve Thacker, city manager.

The library won't be finished until April 2006, Giacoma said.

The Centerville branch will be the second library to be built in the county in three years. Abranch in Syracuse opened in August 2003.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com